On the Murthal National Highway, vehicles were set alight by Jat agitators, with women inside the vehicles pulled out and taken to nearby fields whereupon they were allegedly sexually assaulted, reported The Tribune.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court took cognizance of news reports on Wednesday and ordered a probe by a premier investigation agency in the matter. The High Court order signed by Justice Naresh Sanghi reads:
The High Court of this State should not sit as a mere spectator. It would fail in its duties, if the suo moto cognizance of the said news is not taken. The incident requires probe from premier investigating agency of the country.
The matter has been referred to the Acting Chief Justice Shiavax Jal Vazifdar who will take further action in the case.
The women and their families were reportedly asked by district officials to keep mum on the matter “for the sake of their honour”, while the police dismissed the issue as a rumour. The distraught women were reportedly also told that “what had happened could not be undone”.
The incident is alleged to have happened on Monday morning, when the vehicles which were going towards the NCR via the National Highway were set on fire by the 30-odd mob, forcing many to flee. A number of women who were left behind found themselves set upon by the men, as recounted by travellers who supposedly heard the women’s screams, and eyewitnesses who were present.
They were later found by their menfolk – terrified and shaken – when they returned with some clothes and blankets for the women.
Three women were taken to Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba and united with their families in the presence of senior police officers. They appeared lifeless. District officials who arrived there, instead of investigating the matter, persuaded the families to take the women home. Many were provided transport.An eyewitness, who did not want to be identified
Even the village elders – Hari Krishan of Kurad and Zile
Singh of Hassanpur – were too shocked to talk about the incident. They rightly
pointed out:
The police are sure to shield the criminals and nobody, not even the locals, are safe.
Four women took shelter inside a water tank at a dhaba run by Jai Bhagwan.
We turned off the lights so as not to attract the attention of the goons. The hapless women remained there for hours till they were escorted out at daybreak.Jai Bhagwan, dhaba owner
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